For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 28, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

LADY BRONCS DOWN TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI, 64-55

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American's women's basketball team took another step forward Saturday night.

For the first time ever, the Lady Broncs defeated fellow independent Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, outscoring the Lady Islanders, 17-5, during the final 7:42 for a hard-fought 64-55 victory at the UTPA Fieldhouse.

TAMU-CC erased a 12-point halftime Lady Bronc lead, outscoring Texas-Pan American, 22-7 at the outset of the second half to claim a 50-47 advantage on Mandie Vinck's three-point shot with 7:42 to play.

UT Pan American fought back. Senior forward Naima Williams (Houston, TX/Clear Brook HS) made a free throw, three jump shots and a layup, scoring nine consecutive points to put the Lady Broncs back on top to stay. After Kristin Rogers connected on a pair of free throws to cut UTPA's lead to a single points, senior guard Alex Gravel (Chicoutimi, Quebec/Vanier HS) drilled a three-pointer to put the Lady Broncs on top, 56-52, with 2:37 remaining.

"During that stretch, we were struggling offensively, and Naima was the only one who was able to finish or get to the free throw line," said UTPA Interim Head Coach Tracy Anderson. "When they started pressing, we stopped attacking them, and when we finally got the ball inside to Naima, she was able to attack the defense. We went back to what had been successful for us."

Rogers made another free throw and Monica Pena made a layup to cut UTPA's advantage to 56-55, but Williams hit a layup with 1:47 remaining. The Lady Islanders were forced to foul, and the Lady Broncs made six free throws in the final forty seconds to seal the victory.

Texas-Pan American came out on fire, scoring 18 of the first 24 points to take a 12-point lead with 12:05 remaining. The Lady Islanders utilized a 20-12 run to cut UTPA's lead to four points, 30-26, with 3:49 to play in the first half. But two three-pointers by junior guard Mary DeCock (Lamberton, MN/Red Rock Central HS/Northeast CC) and another by junior guard Amanda Carlow (Pine Ridge, SD/Rapid Central CHS/Northeast CC) allowed the Broncs to score 10 of the final 12 points of the first half and open up a 40-28 lead at the intermission.

"This is a huge win for our seniors," said Anderson. "We've been playing a lot, and I was afraid we'd be a little bit tired, but it actually helped us, because we came out relaxed. We gave up a 12 point lead, but we were able to come back, and that's a big change from the first half of the season. I thought they would make a run on us, and they did, but we did a great job on the boards down the stretch, and that was huge."

Williams led all scorers with 21 points, making nine of 14 shots from the field. Gravel added 15, and Carlow and sophomore guard Jennifer Piwonka (Louise, TX/Louise HS) added nine points each. Gravel grabbed nine rebounds, while Carlow and senior forward Julie Porter (Manchester, MI/Manchester HS/Kalamazoo Valley JC) had eight each as the Lady Broncs outrebounded TAMU-CC, 41-32.

Vinck and Terra Andrews led the Lady Islanders with 14 points, while Rogers added 12. Andrews led TAMU-CC with six rebounds.

"Every win is a huge win, especially because we're playing well," said Anderson. "Having Alex back in the lineup helps us a lot. It makes everyone more confident, and helps all the players find their roles. "

With the victory, the Lady Broncs won two games in a row for the first time since they defeated Lipscomb and Centenary February 3rd and 8th, 2001. They improved to 4-15, and are now 4-4 in their last eight games after starting the season by losing their first eleven contests. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi dropped to 10-8. Texas-Pan American will return to action when they visit Oral Roberts Tuesday night

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